Strategic Cooperation Current Affairs - 2019

United States of America (US) has postponed its inaugural 2+2 dialogue with India which was scheduled to be held on July 6, 2018 in Washington DC, citing “unavoidable reasons”. Both countries are now identifying new mutually convenient dates to hold dialogue at the earliest, either in India or in US. This is third time that 2+2 dialogue has been postponed in the last six months.

India-US 2+2 Dialogue

India-US 2+2 Dialogue format was agreed to between two countries during visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to US in June, 2017. It was aimed at replacing earlier India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. It is aimed enhancing strategic coordination between both countries and maintaining peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region. It puts strategic, defence and security relationship between the two countries at the forefront and centre stage. It insulates India-US strategic relationship from feuds over trade issues and deep divide on economic integration policies as trade and commercial issues that collided with strategic relationship between both countries’ discussed in Strategic and Commercial Dialogue earlier. It is similar to India-Japan 2+2 dialogue format between foreign and defence secretaries of the two countries.

The inaugural India, United States 2+2 Dialogue will be held on July 6, 2018 in Washington. DC, capital city of US. The dialogue will focus on strengthening strategic, security, and defence cooperation as both countries jointly confront global challenges. It is seen as a vehicle to elevate the strategic relationship between two countries.

Key Facts

In inaugural 2+2 Dialogue, US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis will host External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Under it, both countries are expected to share perspectives on strengthening their strategic and security ties and exchange views on range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.

2+2 Dialogue

The new dialogue format was agreed to between two countries during visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to US in June, 2017. It will replace earlier India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. It is similar to India-Japan 2+2 dialogue format between foreign and defence secretaries of the two countries.

The 2+2 Dialogue between US and India aims enhance strategic coordination between both countries and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. It will put strategic, defence and security relationship between the two countries at the forefront and centre stage.

It will enhance strategic coordination between the two nations and also elevate strategic consultations between both countries. It will insulate India-US strategic relationship from feuds over trade issues and deep divide on economic integration policies as trade and commercial issues were discussed in Strategic and Commercial Dialogue earlier.